DE10010140A1 - Automatic system processing e.g. histological and cytological preparations, comprises slides with code identifying them and determining their handling and treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic system processing e.g. histological and cytological preparations, comprises a slide (2) that carries a code providing information concerning the object(s) (1) and/or their handling or treatment. The information can be read out or retrieved. Several processing stations (3) are arranged in succession, in terms of their function and/or spatial arrangement. Preferred features: Coding is implemented and sensed mechanically, or using a light beam. Optionally it comprises a barcode, optically detected. It is alternatively entered into in an electrical, electromagnetic or optical storage medium. The slide has transmitter and receiver units forming a transponder (4). Processing station(s) each have an excitation coil (5) to activate the transponder. Several, optionally all, processing stations have such a coil which can be moved close to them, for transponder activation. The transponder is a read-only, or a combined read-write unit. It is permanently connected to the slide, or else is detachably clipped to it. The transponder communicates with a receiver (7), which includes a read-write unit. Each receiver is connected to a process computer (8) and/or analysis electronics (9). Alternatively the receiver is connected to a single process computer and/or a single electronic analysis unit. The receiver is allocated to the processing station, or each processing station has one. The slide identification code serves to identify the object (1) and/or is for position reporting or determination and/or it allocates a handling or processing program. The object is a histological- or cytological preparation. The slide carrier is a basket and the processing stations are part of automatic specimen staining equipment for the preparations.

Description

The invention relates to a device for preferably automatic handling and / or processing objects, especially in the field of medical technology, with at least one processing station and a slide for placement of the object to the processing station, possibly through the processing station and away from the processing station.

Devices of the generic type are from a wide variety of areas known. In general, these are devices that are used for handling Exercise and / or edit any objects. The objects are there either a single processing station or multiple processing stations mostly fed in a given order, processed there and then finally transported away from the processing station, different groups of Processing stations can be arranged one behind the other.

Reference is made to EP 0 849 582 A1 by way of example only. From this pressure Writing is a device for treating objects, especially cytology or histological specimens. Cytological or histological Preparations are made into a staining car by means of a slide or basket maten fed, wherein the automatic stainer comprises several processing stations. Once the object is fed to the automatic stainer, the object is identified or even several objects within the automatic stainer are no longer possible. The simultaneous treatment of different preparations is with the well-known Vorrich therefore not possible because of the risk of confusing different preparations rate is given. It is also not possible to use the known device at the same time Different staining programs with the same or different preparations to drive, because between the different preparations that are different to be act or are to be colored differently, can not be distinguished.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of a device for preferably automatic handling and / or processing of objects, ins especially in the field of medical technology, to design and develop such that fully automatic operation with clear identification of the to be handled  or objects to be treated is possible. In addition, it should be possible to automatic program assignment to the respective objects.

The above object is ge by the features of claim 1 solves. After that is a generic device for preferably automatic Handling and / or processing of objects, especially in the field of measurement medical technology, characterized in that the slide has a code, that the code provides information about the object and / or about handling or Editing of the object is assignable and that the information about the code are legible or retrievable.

According to the invention, it has been recognized that automatic program processing is only possible if those to be handled and / or processed Let objects be clearly identified. To do this, the slide is more unique Assigned a code in this way, and this code is also quite the object itself could be assigned. With histological or cytological specimens it offers however, assign the code to the slide so that the object located therein clearly via the code attached to the slide is identifiable.

In a further manner according to the invention, the code contains information about the object and / or assignable via the handling or processing of the object. With others Ren words can be the slide and thus the object via the code Assign the entire program to the processing so that - also via the code - the entire program flow is controllable. For this, the information on the Code readable or retrievable, so that the position and the state of the object can be determined or checked. The prerequisite for one Automatic program processing with clear identification of the work to be done The object to be treated or treated is created.

With regard to multi-stage processing, it is advantageous if more Other processing stations functionally and / or spatially directly or indirectly are arranged one behind the other. As part of such a functional chain different processing stations, it is particularly important that the  Objects can be clearly detected at each processing station, namely via the the slide and thus the code assigned to the object.

The code assigned to the slide and thus to the object could be mechani be executed, which in turn can be mechanically scanned and / or via a Light barrier or the like is detectable. When passing a machining station this code, for example a nose attached to the slide, trigger a mechanically operated proximity switch so that the property object is recognized.

It is also possible that the object assigned to the object via its slide Code is executed as a barcode that at the respective processing stations or is optically detectable elsewhere. Ultimately, the barcode is read using a stylus or read via a stationary reading unit, which also a clear identification of the object is possible.

In a very particularly advantageous manner, the code is supplied to the slide in one assigned electrical, electromagnetic or optical storage medium sets. According to the above explanations, the code can be extracted from the Read out the storage medium so that a clear identification is also possible of the object - based on the code. In concrete terms, the slide can have a transmitter unit and possibly also a receiver unit, with it being the transmitter unit assigned to the slide and possibly the receiver unit in can act in a particularly advantageous manner a transponder. Anyone Previously known embodiments of commercially available transponders can be there when using, it is essential that the transponder on definable stiffeners, for example at the respective processing stations, for sending out a Signal or for sending the code can be activated. The activation takes place over Licher via an activation or excitation coil, by means of which the activation of the transponder for sending a signal and signal transmission follows.

In the context of an advantageous exemplary embodiment, several or all of them Processing stations an Erre movable in the area of the processing stations be assigned to activate the transponder. It is also conceivable  that each processing station is assigned a separate excitation coil, which then is stationary.

The transponder could be a read-only transponder or a combined write Read transponder be executed. To that extent it would be conceivable that the transponder sends out predetermined code information or can be assigned code information which he can send out after appropriate assignment and after activation. How already mentioned above, all variants of commercially available transponders can be use in the manner according to the invention.

In terms of design, it is particularly easy if the transponder is fixed is connected to the slide, the transponder preferably being encapsulated is, so that contamination or damage to the transponder effectively ver is avoided.

It is particularly advantageous when handling a wide variety of objects if the transponder in the form of a clip or clip or the like is designed so that the slide and thus the object transponder with different code information can be assigned. Here you could come up with given code information of assigned transponders to serve the respective Objects different program sequences at the respective processing station assign them.

In the light of the teaching of the invention, it is of further advantage if the Transponder communicates with at least one receiver, the receiver is to be understood as evaluation electronics / control unit. Each excitation coil can be one Assigned receiver or a corresponding evaluation electronics / control unit his. It is also conceivable that if several excitation coils are provided, these al all communicate with a single recipient. The recipient might like which comprise a read / write unit, namely information on the one hand record and on the other hand pass on information.

In a further advantageous manner, the receiver is equipped with a process computer and / or an evaluation electronics connected, so that with the help of the detected codes not only recognition of the object, but also activation of individual processing steps  or processing operations via the process computer is possible. about The position of the object can be viewed throughout the entire processing sequence check or determine and can even intervene in the machining process knowing the exact position of the object to be processed.

In principle, it is in any case possible that several receivers with a single Process computer and / or a single evaluation electronics are connected, wherein different receivers with different process computers and / or different evaluation electronics can be connected. Here is one individual adaptation to requirements is possible, although it is conceivable that different processing stations or groups of processing stations also have different process computers and evaluation electronics.

Furthermore, it is possible that the recipient - seen in isolation - a bear processing station is assigned, each processing station a receiver or multiple recipients are also assigned.

As previously mentioned, the code is used to identify the slide and hence the object. It is also possible to change the code according to the posi tion of the respective recipient for position reporting or position determination to use the slide and thus the object. In addition, leaves the code for assigning a handling program or machining pro use gramms, so that a certain object also has a certain bear processing is clearly assignable, whereby after processing a unique Identi object is also possible again.

Finally, it should be noted once again that the object is a histolo genetic or cytological preparation and the specimen around the slide Council receiving basket or the like can act. Accordingly it could in the processing stations around stations of an automatic dyeing machine for dyeing act histological or cytological specimens, the entire handle Exercise and processing of histological and cytological preparations and the corresponding to control processing stations as described above and are monitored, namely in that the object to be processed is unique  Code on the one hand to identify the object and on the other hand to assign a machining program can be assigned.

There are now several ways to teach the present invention advantageous to design and develop. This is on the one hand on the claims subordinate to claim 1, on the other hand to the successor Explanation of embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing to refer. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred embodiment games of the invention with reference to the drawing are also generally preferred Refinements and developments of teaching explained. In the drawing shows

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of the principle of operation of a device according to the invention

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the basic mode of operation ei nes transponder, as it can be used in the inventive device as an electronic code carrier,

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration, partly, an embodiment of a device according to the invention, wherein there is a stainer for histological or cytological preparations there and there being guided past one transponder supporting slides at the start of the program flow to an exciting coil, and thereby identified,

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration, partly, also a one FAER beautomaten Affected embodiment of a erfindungsge MAESSEN device,

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of a device according to the invention concerning a stainer and

Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of the device according to the invention relating to an automatic dyeing machine.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of the principle of operation of an inventive device for preferably automatic handling and / or processing of objects 1 , which is specifically a histological or cytological preparation, which is for processing in a in Fig. 1st only indicated slide 2 is located. Several of the specimen slides 2 are arranged in a rack 10 .

A processing station 3 is also only indicated in FIG. 1, the object 1 or the object carrier 2 and / or the rack 10 being identified on the processing station 3 on the one hand and its presence being or being determined on the other hand.

In the manner according to the invention, the object holder 2 or the rack 10 has a code, the code being able to be assigned information about the object 1 and about its processing. This information can be read or called up via the code.

In concrete terms, the code is stored in an electromagnetic storage medium assigned to the object holder 2 or the rack 10 , namely in a transponder of FIG. 4 , which is to be understood here as a combined transmitter / receiver unit.

Fig. 1 also shows a hint that the processing station 3 is assigned a He excitation coil 5 for activating the transponder 4 , wherein the excitation coil 5 can be activated via a control unit 6 .

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the transponder 4 is mounted on the object carrier 2 or on the rack 10 . Regardless of the embodiment in which the transponder 4 is attached directly to the object holder 2 , it is also conceivable that not individual objects are identified, but always collections of objects 1 , namely in so-called racks 10 , which contain several object holders 2 or Include objects 1 . Ultimately, the histological or cytological specimens (objects 1 ) are on the specimen slides 2 , whereby the specimen slides 2 and also the specimen slide holders, namely the so-called racks 10 , are identified with the transponder 4 , which are located in the various processing stations 3 are located.

FIG. 2 shows the basic functions of a transponder system, namely to better understand the teaching of the invention. The transponder 4 shown there is designed as a combined read / write transponder and in the form of a clip that can be plugged onto the slide 2 . In addition, the transponder 4 communicates via a transmission and reception link with a receiver 7 , more precisely with an evaluation electronics / control unit, which in turn is connected to a process computer 8 and an evaluation electronics 9 . Although the Auswerteelektro 8 is connected upstream nik 9 in the embodiment chosen here, the process computer, the transmitter 9 can be quite upstream computer 8 to the process. The detection of the object 1 can thus influence the program sequence - via the process computer 8 - the evaluation electronics serving to process the detected information or data of the respective object 1 .

With regard to the illustration in FIG. 2, it should be noted with regard to the functioning of a transponder system that the excitation coil 5 also serves as a receive-transmit antenna. The excitation coil 5 generates an excitation field. If an object provided with a transponder reaches this field of excitation, a voltage is induced in a coil in the transponder of the intended coil. The transpon then sends a code (sequence of numbers and / or numbers) to the evaluation electronics 9 shown in FIG. 1. This code is received by the same coil - excitation coil - that generates the excitation field. In this respect, the excitation coil 5 can also be referred to as a receive / transmit antenna. The code is processed by the downstream evaluation electronics 9 and assigned to a program in a controller or processor, wherein individual program steps can be activated or influenced.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention, specifically a partially shown automatic stainer for staining histological and cytological objects 1 or specimens.

Here, Fig. 3 wherein the rack is guided past 10 at the beginning of the program run by means of a transport system 11 to the exciting coil 5 shows a rack 10 for receiving an object or an object carrier, wherein the exciting coil 5 at the same time also serves as a receiving / transmitting antenna. The transponder 4 clipped onto the rack 10 is activated via the excitation coil 5 , so that it sends the code relating to the object 1 ( not shown ) to the evaluation electronics 9 . Identification of the object 1 or the object carrier 2 or the rack 10 is thus possible in a simple manner.

Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of a total of four containers 12 of a partially Darge presented automatic stainer, each container 12 or the rack 10 is assigned a transponder 4 in the form of a transponder clip. A total of four excitation coils 5 serve to activate the transponders 4 at the processing stations 3 or at correspondingly predetermined locations, whereupon the activated transponders 4 pass on the code via the excitation coil 5 to the evaluation electronics 9 .

In the example shown in Fig. 4 embodiment, the exciting coil 5 are disposed on the respective loading stations. The four excitation coils 5 can be connected to an RF module one after the other via an electronic switchover, so that the rack 10 can be identified at very short intervals by the transponders 4 and can be assigned to a specific program sequence. The data transfer takes place between the transponders 4 and the evaluation electronics 9 , this being indicated by arrows in FIG. 4.

In the further embodiment shown in FIG. 5, four containers 12 of an automatic stainer are also shown side by side, where a single exciter coil 5 is guided past the respective locations of the specimen slides by means of a special transport system 13 only indicated here. The position of the slides or racks 10 and thus the position of the objects can thus be clearly identified. Here too, the transponders 4 communicate with the evaluation electronics 9 .

Finally, FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an automatic dyeing machine, a separate excitation coil 5 and complete evaluation electronics 9 being provided for each rack 10 to be identified. Here, too, the transponder 4 communicates with the evaluation electronics 9 via the excitation coil 5, the excitation coil 5 simultaneously serving as a receive / transmit antenna.

It is essential in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 that each machining processing station is assigned an excitation coil 5 and in turn each excitation coil 5 is assigned its own evaluation electronics 9 .

Finally, it should be particularly pointed out that the above he discussed exemplary embodiments of only the discussion of the claimed teaching NEN, but do not restrict this to the exemplary embodiments.

Claims (25)

1. Device for preferably automatic handling and / or processing of objects ( 1 ), in particular in the field of medical technology, with at least one processing station ( 3 ) and a slide ( 2 ) for moving the object ( 1 ) to the processing station ( 3 ), possibly through the processing station ( 3 ) through and away from the processing station ( 3 ), characterized in that the specimen slide ( 2 ) has a code that the code provides information about the object ( 1 ) and / or about the Handling or processing of the object ( 1 ) can be assigned and that the information can be read or called up via the code. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that several Bear processing stations ( 3 ) are arranged functionally and / or spatially directly or indirectly one behind the other. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the code is designed as a mechanical code that can be scanned mechanically and / or via a Light barrier or the like. Is detectable. 4. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the code is designed as a barcode that is optically detectable. 5. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the code is stored in an electrical, electromagnetic or optical storage medium assigned to the specimen slide ( 2 ). 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the slide ( 2 ) comprises a transmitter unit and possibly a receiver unit. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that it is a transponder ( 4 ) associated with the slide ( 2 ) associated transmitter unit and possibly receiver unit. 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the machining station or the processing stations ( 3 ) each have an excitation coil ( 5 ) for activating the transponder ( 4 ). 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that several or all of the processing stations ( 3 ) are assigned an excitation coil ( 5 ) which can be moved in the region of the processing stations ( 3 ) for activating the transponder ( 4 ). 10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the transponder ( 4 ) is designed as a reading transponder. 11. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the transponder ( 4 ) is designed as a combined read / write transponder. 12. Device according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the transponder ( 4 ) is fixedly connected to the slide ( 2 ). 13. Device according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the transponder ( 4 ) is formed in the form of an attachable or clip-on clip or the like. 14. Device according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the transponder ( 4 ) communicates with at least one receiver ( 7 ). 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that each exciter coil ( 5 ) is assigned a receiver ( 7 ). 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the receiver ( 7 ) comprises a read / write unit. 17. Device according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the or each receiver ( 7 ) is connected to a process computer ( 8 ) and / or evaluation electronics ( 9 ). 18. Device according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the receivers ( 7 ) are connected to a single process computer ( 8 ) and / or a single evaluation electronics ( 9 ). 19. Device according to one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the receiver ( 7 ) is assigned to the processing station ( 3 ). 20. Device according to one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that each processing station ( 3 ) is assigned a receiver ( 7 ). 21. Device according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the code serves to identify the slide ( 2 ) and thus the object ( 1 ). 22. Device according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the code for position reporting or position determination of the slide ( 2 ) and thus the object ( 1 ) is used. 23. The device according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that that the code for assigning a handling program or machining programs. 24. Device according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the object ( 1 ) is a histological or cytological preparation and the slide ( 2 ) is a basket receiving the preparation or the like. 25. The device according to claim 24, characterized in that the processing stations ( 3 ) are stations of an automatic stainer for staining histological or cytological preparations.